INQUIRING AND ANALYSING + DEVELOPING IDEAS

INTRODUCTION

You have discovered that you possess secret superhero powers and now you must create an identity for this superhero. Your task is to create a 4 to 6-page comic strip, with each page consisting of 7 to 12 panels, incorporating the following four strands of Criterion A:

1. Explain and Justify the Need for a Solution

2. The Research Required to Solve the Problem

3. An Analysis of Other Superhero Identities

4. Your Chosen Direction / The Design Brief

and Criterion B

1. Develop a Design Specification

2. Develop Design Ideas

3. Present the Chosen Idea

4. Develop Planning Drawings

In order to create your superhero identity, you should make use of the following elements to drive your thinking, as well as 3 of the IB Learner Profile attributes

• Powers

• Origin

• Name

• Costume

• Secret Identity

• Sidekicks/Teams

• Weakness

• Enemy

• Places & Accessories

• Mission

TASK DETAILS

CRITERION A STRANDS

A1: Explain and Justify the Need for a Solution

• What to do: Use Page 1 of the comic to establish a compelling narrative explaining why your superhero needs an identity (e.g., to protect a community, counter a specific villain, or resolve an internal conflict).

  • Introduce the problem or challenge that you are facing - creating a new identity for your secret persona

  • Provide a clear explanation of why a superhero identity is necessary

  • Justify the need for your superhero identity with logical reasoning and creative storytelling.

• How to achieve 7–8:

  • Link the need to 3 IB Learner Profile attributes (e.g., "As a thinker, my hero needs a strategic emblem; as principled, they require a mission aligning with justice").

  • Justify with cause-and-effect reasoning (e.g., "Without a secret identity, my family will be targeted by enemies").

  • Integrate storytelling devices (thought bubbles, flashbacks) to show consequences of not having an identity.

A2: The Research Required to Solve the Problem

• What to do: 

  • Dedicate a page to showcasing the research process your character undergoes to understand their powers and the problem they are aiming to solve (e.g., interviewing "experts" in-story, analyzing historical heroes, studying color psychology)..

  • Include references to research resources used to solve your problem.

• How to achieve 7–8:

  • Prioritize 3–5 research questions (e.g., "How do existing heroes balance secret identities?" "What materials withstand superhuman abilities?").

  • Include diverse sources (comic books, scientific articles, surveys of "citizens" in panels).

  • Show how research informs decisions (e.g., "My research on spider silk inspired my costume’s durability").

A3: An Analysis of Other Superhero Identities

• What to do:

  • Use a page to analyze and draw inspiration from existing superhero identities (eg., Ms Marvel, Spider-Man, Black Panther).

  • Compare and contrast different superhero personas to understand the elements that make a superhero identity effective.

• How to achieve 7–8:

  • Critically analyse strengths/weaknesses (e.g., "Superman’s ‘S’ is iconic but lacks personal backstory depth").

  • Connect your analysis to your hero’s design (e.g., "I avoided Batman’s all-black scheme to make it more fun").

A4: Your Chosen Direction / The Design Brief

• What to do: 

  • Conclude with the plan for the creation of your superhero identity.

• How to achieve 7–8:

  • Synthesize research and analysis into clear objectives (e.g., "My hero’s mission: Protect endangered species using plant-based powers").

  • Justify choices with evidence (e.g., "Green color scheme chosen for eco-symbolism, inspired by Poison Ivy’s palette but revised for heroism").

CRITERION B STRANDS

Your comic should address each of the strands of criterion B, ensuring that you have made it clear what powers and features your superhero will have (B1); the exploration of some different options for what you want to make (B2); and a final chosen identity (B3)

B1. Design specifications

• What to do: Create a list of 3–4 success criteria (e.g., "Emblem must reflect two IB attributes," "Costume materials must be fire-resistant").

• How to achieve 7–8:

  • Make specs specific and measurable (e.g., "Powers must solve 3 community problems from my research").

  • Link each spec to research or analysis (e.g., "Avoid capes due to Wonder Woman’s mobility issues").

B2. Develop design ideas

• What to do: Showcase 3 distinct superhero concepts with sketches/annotations.

• How to achieve 7–8:

  • Explore diverse themes (e.g., tech-based vs. nature-themed heroes) across:

  • Costume layouts (modular armor vs. flexible fabric).

  • Emblem symbolism (animals, elements, abstract shapes).

  • Power mechanics (energy beams, telekinesis).

  • Annotate pros/cons (e.g., "Jet boots allow flight but require fuel-risk of dependency").

B3. Present the chosen idea

• What to do: Dedicate a panel to finalizing the hero’s design with justification.

• How to achieve 7–8:

  • Compare ideas to justify the selection.

B4. Develop planning drawings

• What to do: Include technical blueprints of the costume/emblem in the comic’s final pages.

• How to achieve 7–8:

  • Provide precise measurements (e.g., "Emblem diameter: 15cm for visibility").

  • Specify materials/techniques

Assessment

Your comic strip will be assessed based on your ability to integrate all strands of Criterion A and B effectively, demonstrating a clear understanding of the need for a superhero identity, the research process, an analysis of existing superhero identities, and a well-justified chosen direction for your superhero persona. The final direction should have clear elements (specifications), some options for your superhero and a final design.

CREATING THE SOLUTION

C1. CONSTRUCT A LOGICAL PLAN

• What to do:

  • Create a GANTT chart that lists tasks (e.g., "Design emblem in Tinkercad," "Laser-cut acrylic components"), resources (3D printers, laser cutters, etc), and time estimates (e.g., "30 minutes for 3D modeling").

• How to achieve 7–8:

  • Group tasks into phases or segments (Design → Prototyping → Finishing or Modelling → Printing → Review).

  • Justify time/resource allocations (e.g., "Laser-cutting requires 15 minutes per piece; account for machine queue times").

  • Include contingency plans (e.g., "If 3D print fails, use pre-cut cardboard backup").

C2. DEMONSTRATE TECHNICAL SKILLS

• What to do: Document specific technical skills used, such as:

  • 3D modeling (Tinkercad: list specific skills used)

  • Laser-cut design

  • Post-processing

  • Assembly

• How to achieve 7–8:

  • Show mastery of tools (TinkerCad and 3D printing slicer)

  • Include annotated photos of technical steps

C3. FOLLOW THE PLAN TO MAKE THE SOLUTION

• What to do: Maintain a process journal with:

  • Regular entries (text, images) showing progress

  • Document work completed, technical skills used, changes made and how the plan has been influenced

• How to achieve 7–8:

  • Entries are complete regularly

  • Entries are chronological and detailed, with images and dates.

  • Link journal entries to design specifications being met

  • Final entry with final product

C4. JUSTIFY CHANGES MADE TO THE DESIGNS

• What to do: Create a comparative table outlining changes to the design and plan, including details about the original plan/design and the revised plan/design as well as the reasons for this

• How to achieve 7–8:

  • Include changes to both the plan AND the design

  • Provide detailed reasons for your changes

INFOGRAPHIC

Criterion D is all about looking back and reflecting on the process and the solution you've created. Has it been a success? Did it achieve its goal? Were there any challenges? What could be done differently?

For your submission, you will be creating an infographic with a partner that demonstrates your reflection on this unit.

CONTENT

• The infographic should have a clear and engaging title related to the unit and the reflective process.

• Briefly introduce the unit and the purpose of the reflective pairing session.

• Include sections for problems encountered, successes achieved, areas for improvement, and personal reflections.

VISUAL ELEMENTS

• Incorporate relevant graphics, icons, or images to enhance visual appeal and convey key points.

• Use a cohesive color scheme that aligns with the identity you've created and promotes readability.

TEXT AND TYPOGRAPHY

• Keep the text concise and impactful, using bullet points or short sentences to convey information.

• Select legible fonts and ensure consistency in typography throughout the infographic.

REFLECTION QUOTES

• Include insightful quotes from your reflections and from the conversations you've had with your partner and family members

D1

• What to do: Include a testing methods section in your infographic that outlines how you evaluated your 3d prints/laser cuts.

• How to achieve 7–8:

  • Design 3–5 rigorous tests (e.g., peer surveys, teacher feedback, readability tests, user engagement analytics).

  • Link each test to your design specifications and ACCESSFM criteria (e.g., Aesthetics, Customer).

  • Use mixed data types: quantitative (e.g., "85% of peers found the layout intuitive") and qualitative (e.g., quotes from partner feedback).

D2

• What to do: Based on the tests, determine whether you have been successful in creating your solution. Evaluate the results of your tests and explain why you think you've succeeded or not.

• How to achieve 7–8:

  • Include changes to both the plan AND the design

  • Provide detailed reasons for your changes

D3

• What to do: Provide a list of improvements you could make to your solution. Make sure to be detailed.

• How to achieve 7–8:

  • Propose at least 3-5 changes, in detail

  • Justify the changes with supporting evidence, either from your own ideas or those gathered through feedback and tests

  • Prioritize your improvements.

D4

• What to do: Include a quotes/impact panel with reflections from peers, family, or teachers, and discuss broader implications.

• How to achieve 7–8:

  • Show the direct impact of your solution

  • Consider how well you achieved your goals in the unit